Today in Labor History June 28, 1956: 100,000 workers struck in Poznañ, Poland, shouting "Bread & Freedom.” The protests were violently suppressed, with at least 67 workers killed. The government sent in tanks and 10,000 soldiers. The next day, another 70 would be killed, 700 would be arrested, and hundreds more would be wounded. Several months later, anti-government protests would break out in Hungary, during its Revolution. The Soviets sent in tanks to suppress that uprising, killing thousands. And from these events came the term “tankie” to refer to hardline communists who continued to support (or not criticize) these authoritarian governments and their repressive actions against their workers.
S.O.S. #România and its two MEPs, Diana Iovanovici-Șoșoacă and Luis Lazarus, have allied with the right-wing Alternative for #Germany ( #AfD) in the new bloc, ”The Sovereignists”.
Other members include Mi Hazánk (Our Homeland) from Hungary, an irredentist party which claims #Hungary's pre-Trianon borders, the Monarchist-Libertarian, Konfederacja from #Poland, Se Acabó la Fiesta from #Spain, NIKH from #Greece and Hnutie Republika from #Slovakia.
#Fascists all over #Europe creating a united front against our #democracy, while stupid liberals and centrist suck up to them and pushing for a disastrous military conflict with #Russia.
The #Karkonosze Mountains in #Poland are usually too far south to see any auroras. But on the amazing night of May 10 - 11, purple and green colors lit up much of the night sky, a surprising spectacle that also appeared over many mid-latitude locations around the Earth. The featured image is a composite of six vertical exposures taken during the auroral peak.
In most of the 34 countries surveyed, people had more confidence in #Biden than #Trump to “do the right thing regarding world affairs.” Biden’s approval was highest in European countries like #Sweden, #Germany, #Poland & the #Netherlands — the president has been a vehement supporter of #Ukraine & #NATO amid #Russia’s invasion. He also polled higher in Asian nations like #Japan & #SouthKorea, where he has recently reaffirmed #US#security commitments.
"Authoritarians want to you feel that their ascendence and victories are predetermined and useless to resist. Too much coverage of the recent European parliamentary elections plays into this by concentrating on the surge of the far-right in some countries. These include Germany, where the AfD increased from 11% to more than 15%, and France, where the National Rally party performed very well."
"Another narrative deserves our attention: the continued momentum of anti-authoritarian forces in Poland, Hungary, and the Nordic countries. There is also a new unity strategy now developing among the famously divided left in France. … An anti-authoritarian counter-wave that focuses on solidarity rather than exclusion, and hope rather than fear, is building within Europe."
"The #Ukrainian president, Volodomyr Zelenskiy, exchanged a warm embrace with a veteran at the 80th anniversary of the #DDay landings in #Normandy. The veteran kissed Zelenskiy's hand and told him 'you're the saviour of the people', to which the Ukrainian president replied 'you saved #Europe'. The anniversary of the turning point in the second world war took place while the #war rages on between #Ukraine and #Russia"
A tiny selection from recent pro-Palestinian student protests in Warsaw.
Students at several Warsaw universities loudly demand them to cut ties with Israeli institutions supporting genocide in Palestine. Since the university authorities seem not be listening despite rounds of negotiations, the occupation protest at a park near the university goes on. More universitities across the country are joining in as we speak.
For me, a noob documentary snapshotter, it's a huge lesson on activism, solidarity and principles. I've never received a lesson like this when I was their age.
#Biden calls #America’s democratic values the “grounding wire of our global power” & its #alliances “our greatest asset.” …#Trump, called for withdrawing American forces in #Europe & #Asia & has promised… to cut loose even our closest #allies if they don’t do as he tells them. …Trump sees all countries as unreliable, the relations between them #transactional. That sentiment has spread throughout a #GOP that once championed America’s values abroad…
…#Biden says he remains committed to Ukrainian victory. Asked about the #war’s endgame, Biden says, “#Peace looks like making sure #Russia never, never, never, never occupies #Ukraine.”
…even longtime critics are impressed w/Biden’s efforts in Ukraine.
…Biden says his response has been part of a broader #deterrence strategy. “If we ever let Ukraine go down, mark my words, you’ll see #Poland go, & you’ll see all those nations along the actual border of Russia [fall].”
🇧🇾 🇵🇱 The number of attempted illegal border crossings from #Belarus into EU-member #Poland has shot up in recent months to almost 400 a day — from only a handful a day earlier this year, Polish officials say.
In 2023, an NGO organized a poll in the Russian Oblast of Kaliningrad, asking if the they should be come an independent country. It is a relevant question, since all the surrounding states have already become independent and are now members of the EU and NATO.
Out of the 1 million population, 95567 participated in the poll, and the results were 72.1 percent in favor of an independent Kaliningrad.
Once Ukraine has defeated Putin, he will lose much more than the war.
@randahl Interestingly, as Kaliningrad is Russia and not an independent state, at the end of the war, #Ukraine could walk in and take it as a protectorate pending independence. #Poland would need to let them through, but then it’s a massive border problem solved.
There is also a chance of an independence movement as long as Poland and #Lithuania allow all West to East traffic but block all East to West traffic.
#European allies push the #us to allow Ukr to use U.S. made weapons to strike Rus.
Yesterday, #Macron and #Scholz said they supported #Ukraine using weapons given by allies to strike Russian bases launching missiles, but not allow other strikes on #russia
Following the stabbing of a #Polish border guard through the Poland-Belarus border fence by a migrant trying to cross illegally, #Poland will now create a buffer zone on this border.
Russia’s ally, #Belarus has been accused of bringing migrants to the #border as part of their "hybrid war".
We are finding out who the real fascists are in the world today. The christian Taliban leadership of Poland standing firm behind the genocidal regime of Israel.
EU should have punished and even kicked Poland out of EU when they became the torture center for CIA and US state department during Bush presidency.
But sadly, crimes against EUs so called fundamental foundation of human rights, don't cover crimes against Muslims or people of color. Not to forget their outrageous Taliban style abortion laws or continues torture, mistreatment and even murder of immigrants.
#Palestine / Norway, along with Ireland and Spain, to recognize Palestinian state (to be followed by Slovenia and Malta); Israel recalls ambassadors to Ireland, Norway
With over 140 UN member states now recognizing Palestine, the wave of European support signals growing impatience with the stalled peace process and a willingness to challenge U.S.-backed insistence on direct negotiations favoring Israel's position.
[...] "In the middle of a war, with tens of thousands of dead and injured, we must keep alive the only thing that can provide a safe home for both Israelis and Palestinians: two states that can live in peace with each other," --- Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere (#Norway)
Israel swiftly condemned the move, recalling its ambassadors from Norway and Ireland, and warning of "dire consequences" if Spain follows through. The Israeli Foreign Minister accused the countries of "undercutting Israel's sovereignty and endangering its security."
"We will support the efforts of the High Representative of the European Union and other countries that believe that some long-term, stable solution is needed," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said.
"And we believe that such a stable, long-term solution would be the existence of two states."
If #Poland starts expelling Ukrainian men, its economy could suffer, Forbes writes.
“This could have a significant impact on the Polish economy, since thousands of Ukrainian citizens living in the country may be forced to leave their jobs and join the army,” the publication reports.
Or, fearing deportation, they can leave Poland and move to another EU country.
A Deloitte report states that the contribution of Ukrainian #refugees to Poland's GDP in 2023 will be 0.7–1.1%. And it is expected that in the long term this effect will increase to 0.9–1.35%.
The majority of Ukrainians in Poland are employed in sectors such as industrial production, transport services and construction.
Of the more than a million Ukrainians who have come to Poland since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, 371,000 are men of military age.
"We are witnessing a historic process -- Russians are leaving for the first time in two centuries," independent Azerbaijani analyst Elhan Shahinoglu told AFP.